Carlton: Joker and a battler at heart of AandM's defensive resurgence

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Ebullient pass-rusher Von Miller always seems to be in the middle of everything, such as getting the Aggies pumped up for a game or coming up with a sack or a tackle in the backfield. The senior is expected to be a first-round NFL draft choice.

"Von is definitely a joker. Mike is a much more serious guy.
They bounce things off each other well."

As it has throughout A&M's six-game winning streak, their
performance will be crucial in tonight's AT&T Cotton Bowl
Classic against LSU.

Miller will be significant in generating a pass rush against
LSU's quarterback tag-team of Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee.
Hodges will be at the forefront of containing LSU 1,000-yard rusher
Stevan Ridley.

Hodges and Miller have formed a mutual admiration society.

"I'm blessed to have Michael Hodges on my team," Miller said. "I
don't think there's one play on the field where I don't ask him,
'What's the call?' or 'What am I supposed to be doing?' I owe all
my success this season to Michael Hodges and the rest of the
defense."

Miller plays the "Joker," a hybrid linebacker/defensive end
position in DeRuyter's scheme, a bit of serendipity that fits. In a
first for a Butkus Award winner and near-certain first-round NFL
draft choice, Miller compared his trademark black glasses to those
of Scooby Doo character Velma.

When DeRuyter was finalizing terminology with defensive backs
coach Charles McMillian, he wondered if he should change "Joker" to
something more familiar to A&M players.

McMillian's response: "No, Von's definitely a joker."

Miller was a disruptive force down the stretch, even though his
sack numbers dipped from 2009.

"I told him before the season began, 'You won't have the same
stats you had a year ago. You're not going to get that because
people know who you are and they're going to know where you are and
they're going to make it harder on you. But you can still play
better,' " coach Mike Sherman said.

Hodges took a strange route to a team-high 111 tackles this
season. He started his career at Air Force. Despite being a dean's
list student who could have stepped off a recruiting poster, Hodges
struggled.

"I couldn't find a way to be happy," Hodges said. "When I woke
up in the morning, the only thing I looked forward to was going to
bed at night."

He left the Academy and returned home to Helotes, Texas. Texas
A&M was his only Bowl Subdivision option because of the walk-on
tradition.

Hodges was conflicted until his mother, Christine, told him:
"You'll always wonder if you could get to that Division I
level."

He realized he could contribute on more than just special teams
and with the help of former defensive coordinator Joe Kines bounced
back from a torn knee ligament suffered on the final day of spring
practice.

As Hodges was being examined, Kines put his hand on Hodges'
shoulder.

"Don't worry," Kines said. "You're proven yourself."

Four months and one week later, he was back practicing.

Undersized for a middle linebacker at 226 pounds, Hodges plays
much bigger. He'll need to against Ridley, a power back exactly his
size.

"He's a physical back with great vision and balance," DeRuyter
said. "Rarely does one guy get him down. We have to have multiple
guys tackle him."